Hollande on track to defeat Sarkozy

Socialist François Hollande was on track to defeat right-wing incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy as France entered the final day of campaigning before its presidential election run-off tomorrow.

Boosted by an endorsement from centrist François Bayrou, Hollande urged voters to hand him an “ample victory” so he would have a strong mandate to implement his left-wing programme.

Polls showed Sarkozy, who insisted the race was still close, narrowing the gap slightly but still five to seven points behind.